Safety device for overhead electric conductors.



No. 826,845. PATENT-ED JULY 24, 1906. E. GIRAUD. SAFETY DEVICE FOROVERHEAD ELECTRIC GONDUOTORS.

#PPLIOAT'ION FILED APR-10.1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEBT 1.

- 427722022 W A dwz/w- No. 826,845. PATENTED JULY 24;, 1906.

I E. GIRAUD. SAFETY DEVICE FOR OVERHEAD ELECTRIC OONDUGTORS.

APPLIUA'I'ION FILED APB.10,1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

71% 2% e666 6, fizzzi afl (3Z77ZZ Z6 Qa'rawd rm: Norams PETERS cm,WASHINGTON, D. c,

EMILE GIRAUD, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR OVERHEAD ELECTRIC CONDUCTORS:

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 24, 1906.

Application filed April 10, 1905. Serial No. 254.886-

To (LZZ whom, it 777/6by concern.-

Be it known that I, EMILE GIRAUD, engineer, a citizen of the FrenchRepublic, residing at Paris, France, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Safety Devices for Overhead Electric Conductors,of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide means whereby in case of ahigh-voltage overhead conductor breaking the same is connected to earthor short-circuited by another conductor in its vicinity.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 2, and 3 represent in elevation,side view, and plan, respectively, a safety arrangement constructedaccording to this invention; Fig. 4, a side view, and Fig. 5 a section,of a modification of a detail. Fig. 6 shows the line in its normalstate, and Fig. 7 shows the line with the conductor 6 broken.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, in the groove formed in the head of theinsulator b is placed a trough-shaped metal piece a for the reception ofthe conductor 6, the said metal piece a having two extensions 0 and 0,provided with pins d and cl. The conductor e, laid in the trough a, canslide therein. On the pins (1 d are pivoted two forked piecesff, whichbear on the conductor 6, each fork-piece carrying a light and rigidextension g, consisting of a tube preferably of aluminium andterminating in or carrying at its end and at right angles thereto a tubeh h of U-shape or bent to the shape of an are. On the conductor 6 arefixedly mounted rings t i, having upwardly-extending members and jwhich, in the event of the conductor breaking, the consequent tractionexerted on the portion of the conductor that is not broken is caused tobring either of said members 7' and j to bear against the forked piecesf or f, as the case may be. These forks under the pull exerted by thesleeves i or i, having the members and j are tilted, thereby causing thepart It or it of the arm 9 or g to come in contact with one of the otherconductors arranged in the vicinity of the first conductor.

It will be observed in Figs. 6 and 7 that there are two conductors e ande. For the conductor a the safety devices are disposed for coming intocontact with the conductor a if the conductor ebreaks. For the conductore the safety devices are disposed for coming into contact with theconductor 6 if the conductor 6 breaks. a is the dynamo,

' and 0 a circuit-breaker which cuts out the current when a shortcircuit is between the two conductors.

In the case of a single conductor the same arrangement permits ofconnecting the conductor to earth.

To the rings 2' and t" are pivoted forksj and j, embracing theextensions 9 g. These forks are intended to engage and support the arms9 and g and also to prevent said arms 9 and g from tilting too far in anupward direction, when, as would be the case in certain stablishedposition, gravity would tend to bring the arms 9 and g away from theconductor.

This apparatus need not be provided on all the posts of the line, as itwill suffice to provide it on every second or third post, theintermediate posts being provided with simply trough-shaped pieces fixedto the top of the insulator to carry the conductor 6.

The troughshaped piece a, carrying the pins d (1, may be constructed invarious manners. It may, for instance, be cast in one piece with theextensions 0 c and with the arms it by which it is fixed to theinsulator b. It is necessary in this case to have as many patterns asthere are types of insulators and arrangements of the conductors onerelatively to the other.

The trough-shaped member may be constructed as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.It consists of a central tubular member a with two fastening-arms 7c 7c.The tubular member a, is provided at each end with fiutings, in whichcollars m, provided with projections corresponding to the fiutings, maybe fixed in variable directions. The pins (1 are car ried by the collarsm. This modified arrangement requires as many patterns as there aretypes of insulators.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my saidinvention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare thatwhat I claim is 1. In a safety device for overhead electric conductors,an insulator having a groove, a trough-shaped metal piece mounted in thegroove for supporting the conductor, a jointed fork arranged on eachside of the trough and embracing the conductor and terminating in anarm, a U-shaped piece supported by the latter, a ring fixed to theconductor on each side of the insulator and beyond the forks and havinga diameter sufficient to prevent the said rings passing between thebranches of the corresponding fork, substantially as described.

2. In a safety device, an insulator, a troughshaped member formed of asingle piece mounted in said insulator and having extensions, forkscarried by the extensions and having branch arms for engagement With theconductors, substantially as described.

3. In a safety device of the class described, an insulator, atrough-shaped member supported by said insulator for receiving theconductor, extensions on said member, forks having arms pivotallyconnected to said extensions, and means carried by the conductor foractuating the arms, substantially as described.

4. In a device of the class described a con= ductor-support, tiltingmembers connected to said support and having arched-shaped terminals,and means on the conductor at opposite sides of the said support forengagement with said members for tilting the same When said conductor issevered.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set I my hand in presence of tWosubscribing Wit-

